Chain and method and apparatus for forming same



April 27, 1948.

H. W. DODSON CHAIN AND METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING- SAME s sheets-sheet 1 Filed July 14, 1944 v INVENTOR. ZZ'C' EwarJI/ZDoJsoT-z April 27, 1948. H. w. DODSON 2,440,254

CHAIN AND METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING SAME Filed July 14, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 'INVENTOR. ,hGwarJ ED035027 I BY i a raw April 27, 1948. w, DQDSQQ 2,440,254

CHAIN AND METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING SAME Filed July 14, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. jjowmJJ/lfloason Patented Apr. 27, 1948 CHAIN AND METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORIVHNG SAME Howard W. Dodson, Yeadon, Pa., assignor to United Steel BarreLCompany, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application July 14, 1944, Serial No. 544,907

9 Claims. (cits-s) The present invention relates to chains an methods and apparatus for forming same and it relates more particularly to chains formed from sheet-metal or the like and methods and apparatus for forming same.

An object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved chain construction. Another object of the present invention is to provide a chain whichcan be quickly and inexpensively formed from sheet-metal or the like. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved chain which can be quickly and inexpensively formed from strips of sheet-metal or the like by simple stamping, cutting and welding operations. A furtherobject v of the present invention is to provide a method of and apparatus for carrying out the foregoing objects. 7

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent in the following detailed description, appended claims and accom panying drawings.

In the past, it has been conventional to make chains by bending chain link stock (usually of circular cross-section) to form a plurality of individual links of desired form and dimension; the links being shaped with open scarfed ends. The scarfed ends are then heated to welding temperature whereupon the links are assembled one at a time and each is thereafter welded by a fire weld; that is, by bringing the heated scarfed ends together and forging them by rapid hammering action while they are at the welding temperature.

The chains produced by such conventional methods heretofore employed have been relative- 1y expensive to produce and have required complicated bending and forging apparatus as well as requiring the relatively expensive chain link stock.

Accordingly, the present invention contem plates a new and improved chain construction wherein the chain can be quickly and inexpensively formed from inexpensive strips ofsheetmetal or the like by simple stamping, cutting, and welding operations which can be carried out by relatively simple inexpensive and easily procurable apparatus. i

Generally speaking, the present invention comprehends a chain assembled from two elongated 50 strips of sheet-metal or the like, each of which is stamped from a plain flat blank, by simple cutting and welding operations as. will be hereinafter described.

. there are shown in the accompanying drawings forms thereof which are at present preferred,

since the same have been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable. results, although it is to be understood that the various instrumen- -ta1ities of which the invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and thatthe invention is not limited to the precise arrangements andorganizations' of the instrumentali ties as herein shown and described.

Referring vto the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters indicate like parts throughout: j

Figure 1 represents a fragmentary. perspective view of a thin flat blank" or strip of sheetmtalor the like from which the novel chain construction of the present invention can be formed.

Figure 2 represents a fragmentary perspective view of a strip stamped from the blank of Figure 1; the strip having a series of longitudinally-disposed links connected at their sides by integral webs.

Figure 3 represents a fragmentary perspective View showinga further stage in the formation of the novel chainconstruction of the present invention; one of the stamped strips similar to that of Figure 2 being shown as having been longitudinally cut to provide a pair of half-strips which are arranged on either side of an uncut strip and at right angles thereto; the half-strips being arranged so that the out ends of their half-links are in line with the openings of links, of the uncut strip.

the

Figure 4 represents a fragmentary perspective view. showing a ,still further advanced stage in the forming operation wherein the out half -strips of Figure 3 have been brought together with the ends of. the cut links abutting each other within the openings of the links of the uncut strip H and wherein the abutting ends have been flashwelded to re-unite the half-strips into a more or. less integral structure interengaged with the uncut strip; V

Figure 5. represents a fragmentary perspective view of the final chain structure formed by trim- V ming off the connecting webs of the united strips of Figure 4.

Figure 6 represents a more or less schematic perspective view showing one method of continuously flash-welding the cut half-strips by passing the strips between welding rolls.

Figure 7 represents a cross-sectional view of the embodiments of Figure 6.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, Figure 8 represents a more or less schematic 3 fragmentary perspective view showing an alternate method of flash-welding the half-strips.

Figure 9 represents a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of Figure 8 but showing the parts in welding position.

Figure 10 represents a perspective view showing the manner :in which consecutive lengths of strips and "half-'stripspan be "connected to form a continuous chain.

Figure 11 represents a perspective View of another embodiment of the gpresemt invention wherein the chain is made up entirely of fcmtiand welded links.

Figure 12 represents a perspentiverv'iew'showing an intermediate step in theforzna'tioniofa "hakin from individual links and webbed half-strips.

Referring now to Figures 1 -to flfin'zfiormingrthe novel chain construction of the present invention, I may start with a flat elongated "strip-or blank of sheet-metal or the like shown in Figure '1. The blank 20 may varyconsiderably in thickness and transverse-dimension depen'ding upon the size-of "thefinal chain to be formed. Thus, for exampleywhere small-hains'are to be formed, the blank '20 may be a relatively "thin strip of i'sheet-metahhaving a-thikness of or less. On 13118170131191 "hand, *where large *size :chains are to "be ifonnedfthe blank 29 may "be a strip of rolled'steel "0113118 "like severalineh'es -'or more in thickness.

'Theblankflmay 'b'e'of 'anyappropriate length. Where the strip "is relatively'ithin, 'so' tha't it is flexible and can be rolled up,it"may be of-considerable length and maybeiimountedpn a' reel -or-spool .from which it can"be fed"tothe subse-' quent stamping and forming foperations to be hereinafter described.

Where the blank 20 is relatively thick "(sothat it cannot bewoundzon a spool *orreel) ,"its length ean be as .great .as Tindustrialrdll-"niill operations will permit.

From the blank2ll, there is "nextipunhed :or stamped a, .strip 2 I .shown in Figure "The vpunched strip '2! .ean'be. formed from theblank -20 byany conventionalpunch press (not shown) equippeduwit'h suitably shaped 'dies.

iIhestrip 2| ineludesaseries dflongitudinallyspaced links- 22 whih iarefintegrally .c'onn'eeted by webs 23 extendingialongthe side edges (iflthe strip.

"In forming .the novel chain of "the present invention, -two stripsi2'l "like that 'shown..in.Figure 2 are employed. Oneistrip .2Ilis used .as: is and'the other stripisilongitudinally cutithrough the "links thereof) lby..any suitable -cuttin'g ma- -ehine (not shown) to provide a, pair 'df'halfstripsatl :-a-andi2 I b. as..showninFigureiB.

The. half-strips Il -ea and '2 l--b are? then .posihalf-Jinks w2-2a .and .22-1) of the half-strips 2ia and 2Ib being positioned so (that they are opposite-each other andare in: line with the opening-s 2 S eftheilinksi22. lTheihalfestr'ipsfi' l-a :and 2 l -i-bi-are them brought together .so Tthatthe cut ends 24a and 24-b abut one anotheriwithin thenpenings 25 of .the .links.22.

.The abutting lends .2'4.-a. aIid'T2'4b are then "electrically flash-welded -.together as .shown :in

Figure 24- to vreeunite -the'haIf-strips Z2l-1-a and which is inter-connected twith thenncutstripil the weld zones-26-of-.the strip] l--.- c.bing within the openings 25 of thelinks 22. "The stilpZl is ting dies. mut the connecting-webs 23 and 23-0 respectively triimmed off-along thelin'es 21 and Zilrespectively by any conventional press 'or other forming machine (not shown) equipped with suitable cut- When the strips 2| and 2lc are so thereof are cut off so that the links 22 of the strip 2| and the links 22-0 of the strip 2i-c are'freedrasshownin Figure 5 to give the final chain"structure.

desired, 'the cutting dies for cutting off the -websZ23-naniibe so formed as simultaneously to round off the edges of the links by swaging or 'otlrerwise to eliminate sharp corners thereon.

Alternatively, the sharp edges of the final chain -=structure can beroundedoff by rumbling the links in a turnbling barrel.

Thes'trips ii l an'd' Z i-c can -be' trirnmed simultaneously te-"removetheir-webs or, instead, each of the strips can be trimmed separately.

ZinFiguresB- and '7'I have shown, in more or less schematic form, one :form of apparatus for continu'ously -fiaSh-wlding the out ends 24-11 and EL-R ef the half-strips 2l-a, and 21-?) respectively to produce the final welded strip 2"l'c.

In *thiserribodiment, I may provide a pair of juxtaposedweldingrolls 29-and 30 'havingannular "'gro'ovestl and 32 formed thereon. The annular *groovestl and 32 ma'ybeprovidecl with tapered sidewalls-fiend Mrespectively; the clearance "between the rolls-29 and -30 being such that, when the half-strips 2 l-a and 2 I-b are passed therethrough, 'the sides of the half-strips will be wedge'dtightlyinto the grooves 3 I and 32 to pro- "vide firmer-"support and better electric contact therebetween.

The welding 'rolls2 9-and'30 are then made the terminals of-an-electrical welding circuit as shown diagrammatically-in 'Figure -7. The welding rolls 29and530 are then rotatedslowly-byany conventional idriving "means (not shown) to pull the -trait-"strips -2-l--a and -2 i-b therebetween as "showniin'Figure 6. The low-voltage high-amperagewlding current passes between the welding rolls 29- and 3'0 and through the intervening "portions of the half-strips -2l--a and "21-h "thereby'generating heat atthe abutting cut ends 24--a and 24-b to produce a strong weld'therebetween as is well known-in the-art. That is, 'each'successive 'pairof abutting ends 24-11 and "24-h is "fiash- 'w-elded as =-it comes intermediate "the welding rolls 2-9 and30.

As 'can be seen in Figure 6, the half-strips 2l-a and 2l-b are fed to the welding rolls 29 and -30 along-eonverging paths; the uncut strip *-Z-l being fed intermediate the V half-strips 2 i--a andilb so as to permit the cut ends 2 i-a,.and "24- 1) to meet within the openings :2 5 as herein- "above described.

Instead of having *the welding rolls 29 and :35) power ilriven, these rolls may be idler .rolls and the strips may be pulled through the-rolls by any conventional mechanism (not shown) "InFigures 8'and -9Ihave shown sehematically, alternativeapparatus for welding-the half strips In'tliis embodiment, thehaIf-strip -Z i-a isfirst .gripped by upper andlower" elongated electrically-'conduCting'bars t5 andfiiiso-that the cut ends 24-a protrude inwardly therefrom; the bars 35 and 36 being adapted for vertical up-anddown movement by means of any conventional mechanism (not shown). The other half-strip Zl-b is similarly gripped by upper and lower bars 3'! and 38.

The bars 35 and 33 are connected to one terminal of a low-voltage high-amperage electrical welding circuit and the bars '31 and 38 areconnected to the other terminal of the circuit.

The bars 35-36 and 31-38 are also adapted for horizontal movement by any suitable mechnism (not shown) so that, after the half-strips ZI-a and 21-?) have been grasped, the bars are moved inward and toward each other until the protruding cut ends 24-11 and 24-h abut within the Openings 25 of the uncut strip'2l' (as shown in Figure 9) the strip 2| being maintained in upright position intermediate the half-strips by any suitable mechanism (not shown).

When the cut ends 24-0. and. 24-h abut, the low-voltage high-amperage welding current will pass therethrough throughout the length of the bars 35-36 and 31-38 so that all of the abutting ends 24a and 24-!) held by said bars are simul taneously flash-welded as shown in Figure 9.

The individual bars 35 and;36 and 31 and 38 are then moved apart vertically -to release the welded section 2Icwhereup, n the interconnected sections 2| and 2l-c are moved by any suitable mechanism (not shown) to permit the next length of half-strips tobe welded in position.

It is apparent that a chain of indefinite length can be made by connecting the ends of relatively short sections 2| and half-sections 2I-a and Zl-b in the manner shown in Figure 10. That is, if the sections 2! and the half-sections 21-11 and Zl-b are terminated at their connecting webs 23 and 23- c respectively, the welding of the last pairs of cut ends 24-11 and 24-h automatically interconnect the consecutive strips and half-strips.

Instead of stamping the whole strips 2| out of the blanks 20, it is possible to stamp half-strips out of blanks having smaller transverse dimensions. That is, it is possible to stamp a half-strip 2l-a or Zl-b directly out of an appropriatelysized blank insteadof forming these half-strips by longitudinally cutting a whole strip 2|.

These directly-punched half-strips can be used in conjunction with whole strips 2| as shown in Figure 3 or, alternatively, four of such directlypunched half-strips can be used to make up the chain as shown in Figure 11. That is, another pair of vertically-disposed half-strips may be used in place of the whole strip 2| of Figure 3 and may be flash-welded together as described hereinabove. In other words, the two perpendicularly-arranged pairs of opposed half-strips can be flash-welded to form the chain. In this case, the chain would be made up entirely of welded links as shown in Figure 11, instead of the alternate welded and integral links shown in Figure 5.

In Figure 12, I have shown an intermediate step in an alternative method of constructing the novel chain of the present invention.

In this embodiment, individual links 39 are punched from any suitable blank of sheet-metal or the like; each of the links 39 being integral and continuous and uncut and being disconnected from the other links.

The individual links 39 are then positioned in spaced alignment between suitable grooved other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and it is therefore desired that the present embodiments be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to the appendedclaims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

' l. A method of forming a chain which comprises punching elongated strips from blanks of sheet-metal or the like, each of said strips including a plurality of longitudinally-spaced links integrally connected by pairs of lateral webs; longitudinally cutting one of said strips to provide a pair of half-strips, each of said half-strips includinga plurality of half-links integrally connected by a lateral web; positioning said halfstrips on either side ofand generally at right angles to a whole strip so that the cut ends of the half-links of the respective half-strips abut one another generally within the links of the whole strip; passing an electrical welding current through said abutting cut ends thereby to weld them together'and to re-unite the half -strips in interlocking engagement with the Whole strip; and trimming the connecting webs from the whole strip and the welded strip, thereby to free the links thereof and to provide a chain having alternate integral and uncut links and intervening welded links.

2. A method of forming a chain which comprises punching an elongated strip from a blank of sheet-metal or the like, said strip including a plurality of longitudinally-spaced links integrally connected by webs; forming a pair of half-strips from sheet-metal or the like, each of said halfstrips including a plurality of half-links integrally connected by webs; positioning said half-strips on either side of and generally at right angles to the whole strip so that the ends of the halflinks of the respective half-strips abut one another generally within the links of the whole strip; passing an electrical welding current through said abutting ends thereby to weld them together and to unite the "half-strips into a whole strip disposed in interlocking engagement with the integral strip; and trimming the connecting webs from the integral strip and the welded strip, there- ;by to'iree the links thereof and to provide a chain having alternate integrlallinks and intervening welded links.

3. A method of forming a chain which comprises forming two pairs of elongated half-strips from blanks of sheet-metal or the like, each of said half-strips including a plurality of longitudinally-spaced half-Jinks integrally connected by webs; juxtapositioning said pairs of halfstrips with the ends of the half-links in abutting relationship, the pairs of half-strips being disposed generally at right angles to each other with the abutting ends of the half-links of each pair of half-strips generally enclosed within the half-links of the other pair of half-strips; passing an electrical welding current through the abutting ends of the half-links of each pair of 17 half stripsithereby to weld them together and to unite the pairs o-fhalf-strips into two interlocked whole strips; and trimming the connecting Webs rrom'each of the said welded strips, thereby to treethelinks'thereof and to provide'achain having links :each madeiup'of a; pair of welded sections.

*Amethod of forming a chain which comprises forming a pair of rhalf-strips of sheet-metal or the like, each of said half-strips including a :pIUraIity of longitudinally-spaced half-links integrally connected by lateral webs; maintaining a plurality of chain links in longitudinally-spaced alignment; ipositioning said half strips so that the ends of their respective half -links are disi posed in abutting relationshipgenerally within said 'chainlinks; electrically-welding the abutting ends of said half-links thereby to unitesaid half strips; trimming the connecting webs from *thewe'lded stripsyand freeing-said chain links -thereby toprovidea chain wherein alternate links are made -up"f welded sections.

-5. A method of forming a chain which com .prises forming-a pair of half-strips of sheet-metal or the like each including a plurality of longitudinally-spaced half-links integrally connected by a lateral web passing-said half-strips between welding rolls in inter-meshing relationship with -a series of interconnected chain links, the ends -ofthe half-linksofsaidhalf-strips-being disposed in abutting relationship generally within the .chain links, 'thereby progressivelyto weld said a pair of'hal-f-strips, each of said half-strips including apluralityofhalf-links integrally connected-by a lateral web; feedingsaid half-strips between welding rolls with the cut ends of the half-links in abutting relationship generally within the links'of the whole strip, thereby progressively to weld-said abutting ends and to reunite the half-strips; and trimming the connecting webs from said strips thereby to free the links and to providea chain wherein alternate links are formed of welded half-sections.

'7. For forming a chain or the like, means for punching elongated-strips .from blanks of sheetmetal-or the like, each of said strips including a plurality of longitudinally-spaced links integrally connected -by pairs-of lateral webs; means for longitudinally cuttingastrip thereby to provide a pair of half-strips each including a plurality of strips, thereby to free half-links --integra"lly connected by a lateral -web; meansfor electrically flash-Welding the cut-ends of the pair of half-linksin intermeshing engageiIlBIl'LTWlth the linksof an uncut strip; and means for trimming the connecting webs from said strips, thereby to free the links.

8. For forming-a chain or the like, means for punching elongated strips from blanks of. sheetmetal or the like, each of said strips including a plurality of longitudinally-spaced links integrally connected by .pairs of lateral webs; -.means for longitudinally cutting a strip thereby to provide a pair of half-strips each including a plurality of half-links integrally connected by a lateral web; means forprogressively flash-weldingvthe abutting cut ends -of the half-strips in inter-meshing' engagement with the -links -.of the uncut strip, said last mentioned means including a pair-of juxtaposed channeled Weldingrolls adapted-to contact the lateral edges of the half-strips and to hold the cut edges of 'the-half-links inabutting relationship; and means for trimming thereonnecting webs from said strips, thereby to free the links.

SkFor forming a chain orthe like, imeanslfor punching elongated strips from blanks 'of-sheetmetal or the like, each of said-strips including a plurality of longitudinally-spaced links integrally conected by pairs of lateral webs; means sfor'longitudinally cutting astrip thereby to provide a pair of half-strips each including/a plurality-of half-links integrally connected by a lateral-web; means for electrically flash-welding the cutends of the half-links of said half strips in interengagement with the links of the uncut strip,-said last-mentioned means including opposed clampbars adapted to grip each of said half -strips with the-cut ends of the half-links protruding inwardly therefrom, means for bringing the' gripped half-strips together whereby the cut ends of "said half-links are "brought into-abutting relationship within the links of the uncut strip, and means for passing an electrical welding current "from said clamp-bars through the abutting cut ends thereby to weld said ends together; and means 'for trimming the connecting webs-from said the links.

HOWARD W. DODSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the- Number Name Date 1,833,444 Stuller NOV. 24, '1931 2,242,164 Barstow May '13, 1941 1,972,297 Hall 1 Sept. 4,1934 2,260,630 McKinncn et a1 Oct. 18, 1941 1,962,291 Anderson June .12, 1934 2,260,629 McKinncn -Oct. 28,1941 

